everyday scenes of singapore become 1980s-inspired visuals through nicolas damiens' lens

Nicolas Damiens imagines Singapore as retro-inspired playground

Visual designer Nicolas Damiens captures the vibrant soul of Singapore with his personal photography project City Pop, reimagining its urban landscape through a colorful, retro lens. The series, which began in 2023, combines the city-state’s tropical charm with the nostalgic energy of 1980s Japanese City Pop aesthetics.

Drawing influence from Japanese graphic designer Hiroshi Nagai’s iconic album covers, Damiens captures the vibrant colors and joyful scenes that embody the nostalgia of urban life. The photography series reflects a playful mix of Singapore’s modern cityscape and retro charm, incorporating elements like shophouses, skyscrapers, and tropical vistas. Through editing, Damiens brings his compositions to life, enhancing colors and removing distractions to achieve the appeal of the 1980s aesthetic. The subjects of City Pop are unplanned and arise from Damiens’ spontaneous journeys around Singapore. ‘This city is brimming with surprises at every corner, making it the perfect canvas for inspiration,’ he explains. His creative process begins with framing a strong composition, followed by detailed editing to emphasize the retro tone of the final image.

all images by Nicolas Damiens

A visual tribute to 1980s City Pop aesthetics

After living in Paris and New York, French designer Nicolas Damiens relocated to Singapore and embraced the unique character of the city through fresh eyes. Inspired by its endless summer, pastel tones, palm trees, and ocean views, the artist viewed Singapore as a living embodiment of the City Pop aesthetic. This perception became the foundation for City Pop, a side project that allows Damiens to explore his creative freedom outside the confines of his work as a visual designer in advertising. ‘Singapore felt exotic and new, giving me the opportunity to associate it with its own color palette and soundtrack,’ says Damiens. He describes City Pop as a personal playground where he can experiment with visual ideas, unconstrained by client-driven demands.

City Pop captures the vibrant soul of Singapore